F1 friends, the time has come. F1 has reached its final weekend of the 2024 season. The Yas Marina Circuit is set for thrilling action, with most teams having much to fight for. Emotions will be running extremely high for the teams and fans alike, as we'll see many lasts this weekend, as it marks the last race for many drivers either with their current team or within the sport in general.
Before we jump into the current standings for both Championships and take a look into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a couple of things to mention:
Authors Note 1: The Formula One Season has two main championship competitions. The first is the Drivers' Championship, which is a competition between the individual drivers. The drivers who finish in the top 10 each weekend will score points (the higher you place, the more points you get). These points are added up, and whichever driver finishes with the most points at the end of the season will win the Drivers' Championship. The next is the Constructors' Championship, a competition between the teams. The number of points the drivers within a team get each race is combined, creating the total points for the team (E.g., Lando Norris has scored 349 points, and Oscar Piastri has scored 291 points, giving the McLaren team 640 points in the Constructors' Championship). The team whose drivers accumulate the most points combined for their team will win the Constructors' Championship.
Author's Note 2: 23 drivers will be listed on the Drivers' Championship. Oliver Bearman was a replacement driver for Carlos Sainz for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Kevin Magnussen for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and Kevin Magnussen for the São Paulo Grand Prix. Also, Franco Calapinto has replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams, and Liam Lawson has replaced Daniel Ricciardo at RB for the remainder of the season.
Author's Note 3: Once the weekend is over, a 24th driver will be listed in the Drivers' Standings, as Jack Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon at Alpine for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Now, here is a look at the current Drivers' and Constructors' standings before the race weekend:
Drivers' Championship Standings:
Max Verstappen 429 points
Lando Norris 349 points
Charles Leclerc 341 points
Oscar Piastri 291 points
Carlos Sainz 272 points
George Russell 235 points
Lewis Hamilton 211 points
Sergio Perez 152 points
Fernando Alonso 68 points
Nico Hulkenberg 37 points
Pierre Gasly 36 points
Yuki Tsunoda 30 points
Lance Stroll 24 points
Esteban Ocon 23 points
Kevin Magnussen 16 points
Alexander Albon 12 points
Daniel Ricciardo 12 points
Oliver Bearman 7 points
Franco Colapinto 5 points
Zhou Guanyu 4 points
Liam Lawson 4 points
Valtteri Bottas 0 points
Logan Sargeant 0 points
Constructor's Championship Standings:
McLaren 640 points
Ferrari 619 points
Red Bull 581 points
Mercedes 446 points
Aston Martin 92 points
Alpine 59 points
Haas 54 points
Racing Bulls 46 points
Williams 17 points
Kick Sauber 4 points
Standings were found at F1.com.
Alpine
Last weekend, Alpine did what they needed to do in order to stay in the fight for 6th in the Constructors' Championship. For the Sprint, Esteban Ocon qualified 18th and finished 14th, and Pierre Gasly qualified 8th and finished 9th. For the Grand Prix, Ocon started 20th and did not finish the race, while Gasly started 11th and finished 5th.
As they head into this weekend in Abu Dhabi, Alpine has two key aspects to focus on.
One, and most importantly, is their fight for 6th in the Constructors' Championship. Alpine's improvement from a bottom-two team on the grid at the start of the year to a now consistent points contender has been incredible to witness and extremely impressive. Even a couple of months ago, no one would have thought Alpine would be in this position going into the final race of 2024. Since the Grand Prix in Brazil, Alpine's pace has looked rapid compared to the start of the season, as they've produced multiple strong results in that span.
The second aspect of Alpine's weekend to watch out for is Jack Doohan and how he compares to Gasly's pace. With the team announcing that they will part ways with Esteban Ocon early, Doohan has a great opportunity to not only gain valuable experience going into 2025, but also a chance to show the world what he can do. Doohan's progress and development have been kept very private by Alpine, so it is unknown to fans whether or not his pace will live up to the hype. Gasly has been tremendous the past few Grand Prix, so it will be a tall task for Doohan to keep up in his F1 debut.
As for the race, expect Alpine's pace to be up to the task. Points are very much on the table.
Race Prediction:
Ceiling: 6th-8th place finish for Gasly and 10th-12th place finish for Doohan
Floor: 10th-12th place finish for Gasly and 17th-20th place finish for Doohan
Aston Martin
Aston Martin's pace was brutal last weekend, but somehow ended up with a bit of points. For the Sprint, Lance Stroll qualified 14th and finished 13th, while Fernando Alonso qualified and finished in 11th. For the Grand Prix, Stroll started 15th and did not finish the race, while Alonso started 8th and finished 7th.
If your primary driver, Fernando Alonso, is telling you that the car is, in his words, the "worst car ever," then you have a major problem. It seems that Aston Martin is failing to put together a competitive car once again in Abu Dhabi. At this point, there is only so much a 43-year-old Alonso can do. It is a lost cause at this point, as there is only one race left.
The only thing Aston Martin is fighting for this weekend is to keep Alonso happy and hopeful that the car will improve next season. Aston Martin has gotten worse as the year has gone on, and I expect this weekend to be no different.
Race Prediction
Ceiling: 7th-10th place finish for Alonso and 12th-14th place finish for Stroll
Floor: 12th-14th place finish for Alonso and 16th-18th place finish for Stroll
Ferrari
Last time out, Ferrari was solid, but took advantage of their opportuities. For the Sprint, Carlos Sainz started and finished 4th, and Charles Leclerc qualified and finished in 5th. For the Grand Prix, Sainz started 7th and finished 6th, while Leclerc started 5th and finished 2nd.
In what could be seen as the most important race for Ferrari in years, it is already off to a terrible start. On Friday morning's first practice session, Charles Leclerc received a 10-place grid penalty. What happened was that Leclerc was unable to start the session right away, as his car required a new battery. This new battery exceeded the energy storage limit drivers are allowed to have in a season. Since a driver cannot race without a serviceable battery, Ferrari had to replace it, forcing Leclerc to receive the grid-drop penalty and start ten positions behind his earned spot in Saturday's Qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix.
This situation could not be worse for Ferrari, as it likely ends their hopes of winning the Constructors' Title. Of course, anything can happen in F1, but Leclerc and Ferrari will need a miracle if Leclerc hopes to move up the ranks onto at least a podium finish.
On top of this, the weekend will mark Carlos Sainz's last race with Ferrari, as he will race for Williams next season. Though it was not Sainz's choice to leave, Ferrari had to make the tough choice because it is not every day you get a chance to sign arguably the greatest in the sport, Lewis Hamilton. Nevertheless, Sainz has provided Ferrari and their fans with memories that will last a lifetime. Let's just hope Carlos can end his Ferrari tenure on a high note!
Race Prediction:
Ceiling: 2nd-5th place finish for Sainz and 4th-6th place finish for Leclerc
Floor: 5th-7th place finish for Sainz and 8th-10th place finish for Leclerc
Haas
Haas will be looking to bounce back from a roller coaster of a weekend in Qatar. Last time out, in the Sprint, Kevin Magnussen qualified 15th and finished 10th, while Nico Hulkenberg qualified 9th and finished 7th. In the Grand Prix, Magnussen started 10th and finished 9th, while Hulkenberg started 18th and did not finish the race.
With their lackluster performance in Qatar, Haas has opened the door for a competitive fight with Alpine. Haas has exceeded everyone's expectations in 2024, and have been strong all season long. It is only fitting that they do what they need to do to close out a fantastic finish in the standings this year. Haas should be favored to outlast Alpine this weekend and secure their place in the Constructors' Championship. As long as they can avoid silly mistakes, I view it as Hass' place to lose.
Haas will also be saying goodbye to Kevin Magnussen after this weekend, as it might be the last race of his F1 career. It has been a wild ride for K-Mag this season, but what better way to write off his season than helping his team claim 6th place, which is something the team probably didn't even think they'd achieve.
Race Prediction:
Ceiling: 6th-8th place finish for both drivers
Floor: 10th-13th place finish for both drivers
Kick Sauber
Sauber surprised everyone in Qatar, producing easily their best result of the season. For the Sprint, Valtteri Bottas qualified 13th and finished 12th, while Zhou Guanyu qualified and finished in 19th. For the Grand Prix, Bottas started 13th and finished 11th, while Zhou started 12th and finished 8th.
Sauber looked quick for the first time all season in Qatar, and I expect more of the same in Abu Dhabi. With teams like Williams and Aston Martin fading, Sauber could make a real run at a near-points finish this weekend. In what was an abysmal seaosn overall, both drivers will for sure put everything they have into what could be both of their final races in the sport.
Race Prediction:
Ceiling: 9th-12th place finish for both drivers
Floor: 14th-17th place finish for both drivers
McLaren
McLaren will look to close out the Constructors' Championship this weekend, as they aim for a mistake free weekend. Last time out, for the Sprint, Oscar Piastri qualified 3rd and finished 1st, while Lando Norris qualified 1st and finished 2nd. For the Grand Prix, Piastri started 4th and finished 3rd, while Norris started 3rd and finished 10th.
With McLaren already receiving a boost due to Leclerc's grid drop, the path is quite simple for McLaren this weekend. As long as they drive mistake-free, they should have no problem in Abu Dhabi. Norris and Piastri have been elite all season long, and though they are prone to mistakes, they are aware of the stakes and will surely do what is necessary to close the season out on top.
Race Prediction:
Ceiling: Top-2 on the grid
Floor: 4th-6th place finish for both drivers
Mercedes
Mercedes will look to end their up-and-down season on a high after a disappointing weekend in Qatar. Last week in Qatar, for the Sprint, George Russell qualified 2nd and finished 3rdth, while Lewis Hamilton qualified 7th and finished 6th. For the Grand Prix, Russell qualified 2nd but started 1st due to a Verstappen 1-place grid penalty and finished 4th, while Hamilton started 6th and finished 12th.
This weekend will mark an end to a legendary era in F1, as Lewis Hamilton will drive his final race for Mercedes. Looking back on the team's sucess over the years, this duo is among the greatest to ever grace the sport. 82 race wins, 144 podium finishes, 77 pole positions, and 6 Drivers' Championships as a duo is nothing short of spectacular. As they go into one last dance, one can only hope the dynamic duo of Hamilton and Mercedes, that dominated the sport for so long, can find a way to finish on a high note.
It has been a tough year for Mercedes. With the inconsistency of the car and the problems they faced on most weekends, Mercedes is definitely not where they want to be as the season comes to a close. However, they still have an opportunity to produce in Abu Dhabi. Will they? Unfortunately, it's unlikely, as the hot temperatures will likely hinder the car's performance. Never say never though, because crazier things have happened.
Race Prediction:
Ceiling: 3rd-5th place finish for Russell and 4th-7th place finish for Hamilton
Floor: 4th-7th place finish for Russell and 8th-10th place finish for Hamilton
Racing Bulls
Racing Bulls had a disasterious weekend in Qatar, basically taking them out of the running for P6 in the Constructors' Championship. in Qatar, for the Sprint, Liam Lawson qualified 10th and finished 16th, while Yuki Tsunoda qualified and finished 17th. For the Grand Prix, Lawson qualified 17th and finished 14th, while Tsunoda started 14th and finished 13th.
RB still have a slight chance of moving up the Constructors' Standings, but it is a long shot. The car does not seem to have the pace compared to Alpine and Haas. However, RB's drivers, like most weekends, are still going head-to-head in the event that Red Bull gets rid of Sergio Perez.
What made the typical rumors even more interesting was that, in an interview, Red Bull's reserve driver and current F2 star Isak Hadjar may have leaked huge information. Though it wasn't explicitly said, Hadjar proposed a series of decisions that would make him an RB driver in 2025 alongside Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, the Red Bull driver beside Max Verstappen. Red Bull have not discussed this idea much, but they did say that it would be up to Perez on which path Red Bull and RB will go down.
Race Prediction:
Ceiling: 7th-10th place finish for both drivers
Floor: 14th-16th place finish for both drivers
Red Bull
Red Bull had a pretty normal weekend last weekend, producing a result we have come to expect from the team. For the Sprint, Sergio Perez qualified 16th and finished 20th, while Max Verstappen qualified 6th and finished 8th. For the Grand Prix, Perez started 9th but did not finish the race, while Verstappen qualified 1st but started 2nd due to a 1-place grid penalty he received in qualifying, but won the race.
Red Bull does not have much to fight for as a team, but Perez certainly needs a good result if he wants to increase his case to retain his seat. As we all know, the rumors of him being replaced have gotten louder and louder every race weekend. Though team boss Christian Horner said the ball is in Perez's court in terms of his future, Perez needs to show Red Bull that he still belongs in that seat. Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have shown many more flashes of potential than Perez has this season, which does not help him in the slightest.
Could this finally be Pérez's last race at Red Bull? Will the discussion finally end? If I were to guess, probably not. I think Red Bull will go about Abu Dhabi like they do any weekend and assess their future after the post-season tests.
Race Prediction:
Ceiling: Race win for Verstappen and 7th-9th place finish for Perez
Floor: 4th-6th place finish for Verstappen and 12th-15th place finish for Perez
Williams
At this point, Williams is just driving because they have to. Last weekend in Qatar, for the Sprint, Franco Colapinto qualified 20th and finished 18th, while Alex Albon qualified 12th and finished 15th. For the Grand Prix, Colapinto started 19th and did not finish the race, while Albon started 16th and finished 15th.
With the team being over the cost cap, and the car running on older and slower parts, Williams are likely to struggle the most out of the teams on the grid. The car is nowhere near where it was even a few races ago. A win for Williams this weekend would be to go through it with no major crashes. If they don't have to pay more than they already have for spare parts, Williams will end the year on a positive note. In terms of the race, expect Williams to be near the bottom of the grid throughout qualifying and the race.
Race Prediction:
Ceiling: 12th-14th place for Albon and 13th-16th place for Colapinto
Floor: 15th-17th place finish for Albon and 18th-20th place finish for Colapinto
For the Sprint, Franco Colapinto qualified 20th and finished 18th, while Alex Albon qualified 12th and finished 15th. For the Grand Prix, Colapinto started 19th and did not finish the race, while Albon started 16th and finished 15th.
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Catch you next time!
-Matt Hylen
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